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27
Common Lodging Houses.
The common lodging house accommodation in the Borough is equal to 23
beds per 1,000 of the estimated resident population. The death-rate amongst
common lodging-house residents is very high; in this Borough it was 44 per 1,000
in 1932.

Boswell Court Housing Scheme.
During the year two of the three blocks comprised in this scheme were
completed, and were formally opened by the Mayoress, Mrs. Bracewell Smith, on
the 28th October. In order to make the fullest use of the available site (less than
a third of an acre) the buildings are seven storeys in height, the two top floors
being arranged as maisonettes. The rents range from 15s. 4d. for a three-room
flat to 21s. 7d. for a flat with four rooms and a kitchenette. When the scheme
is completed a total of 62 flats will be provided designed to comply with the
Ministry of Health's requirements under the Housing (Financial Provisions)
Act, 1924.
Sixteen of the flats will have in addition to the living room and bedrooms,
a combined kitchen and scullery. In the remaining flats and maisonettes the
living room and kitchen are combined. All the flats will have a well-ventilated
larder, sink, draining board, dresser-cupboard, gas cooker, copper-boiler, bath room
and W.G., coal bunker, cupboards, shelving, hat and coat racks, etc. Two service
lifts are provided and a number of perambulator sheds. The balconies, from which
access to the flats above ground is obtained, connect all three blocks of flats
together for fire escape purposes. A playing yard is provided for children, and
the blocks of flats have been so arranged as to provide the maximum amount of
sunshine, light and air for the dwellings. The flats, balconies, staircases and* the
yard will be lighted at night by electric light.
The dwellings were designed by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor (Mr.
J. E. Parr, A.M.Inst.C.E.). and the work has been carried out under his direction
and supervision, the building work being entrusted to Messrs. H. C, Horswill, Ltd,